Incontinence article in the form of pants

ABSTRACT

An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on the hip side, having only the first elastification means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns an incontinence article in the form of pants forreceiving body excrements, comprising a front belly section and a rearback section, which are connected to each other at side seam areas onboth sides during production to form a belly and back band, which iscontinuous in the transverse or peripheral hip direction and has a hipopening that is closed in the peripheral hip direction, and a crotchsection which has an absorbent body and extends in a longitudinaldirection between the belly section and the back section, and ispermanently attached to the belly section and to the back section,wherein the crotch section as well as the belly section and the backsection define the leg openings of the incontinence article. Athree-component incontinence article of this type is disclosed e.g. inWO 2004/052260 A1. In this specific product concept, an H-shaped basicstructure of the incontinence article is realized by joining the crotchsection, which extends in the longitudinal direction, to the bellysection, which extends substantially in the transverse or peripheral hipdirection, and to the correspondingly extending back section when thesethree components are flatly extended. The incontinence article is thenmodularly designed from the components crotch section, belly section andback section. These components are advantageously initially connected toeach other via the crotch section, and preferably after that, the sideseam areas of the belly section are connected to those of the backsection on both sides. This connection is realized by the manufacturerto obtain the shape of pants. This connection is typically permanent.However, it may also be provided that the pants can be opened, inparticular, along a breaking line which may extend, in particular, inthe side seam area, e.g. for removing a used incontinence article from aperson who is in need of care. Incontinence articles in the form ofpants differ, in principle, from incontinence articles of normal diapershape that can be opened and closed in that the hip size is generallypredetermined and the article can be adjusted to different body sizes byproviding a number of different basic sizes that can be elasticallystretched. Towards this end, elastification means, in particular, in theform of bands or threads, often called Lycra threads, are generallyconnected in a prestrained state (stretch-bond method) to chassismaterials of the incontinence article, i.e. they are fixed in theprestrained state to the chassis materials e.g. by means of glue. Due totheir pretension, these elastification means gather the chassismaterials to thereby form crimps. The incontinence article or theelasticised chassis materials of the incontinence article can beelastically stretched again when the incontinence article is applied tothe user like pants. Several incontinence articles in the form of pantscomprising elasticised chassis materials of this type have beendisclosed and are discussed e.g. also in the above-mentioned document WO2004/052260 A1.

The development of incontinence articles in the form of pants showedthat a maximum area of the incontinence article should be elasticallyflexible, i.e. be stretchable in accordance with the body shape of theuser. One therefore assumed that a maximum part of the cover-formingchassis materials of the incontinence article should be provided withelastically stretchable or elasticised materials, in particular, byintroducing the above-mentioned elastification means in the stretch-bondmethod, which assumption is not always correct. Irrespective thereof orin addition thereto, one tried to elasticise the leg openings of theincontinence article, if possible, in a continuous fashion in order toobtain reliable side leakage protection.

However, one did not recognize that elastification of chassis materials,in particular, by introducing linearly extending elastification means,also entails considerable disadvantages. An extensive, i.e.substantially continuously extending elastification of chassis materialsmakes the pants-shaped incontinence article, to a certain degree,generally adaptable to different body shapes, i.e. the article can be atleast properly positioned on the user. This often generates very largetensile stress in the chassis materials, which has a negative effect onthe user. The elastification means thereby often cut into the skinsurface of the user, which is perceived as unpleasant and can causepain, skin irritations and, in particular, in a humid climate, even skininjuries. Highly strained chassis materials often tightly abut the skinsurface of the user, which, even when breathable materials are used,produces a humid micro climate in the region of the skin surface, whichcan also have severe consequences in view of the skin surface of theuser. In this case, instead of a gas phase, a liquid phase formsdirectly next to the skin surface. Irrespective thereof, greatpretension in the area of the elastification means produces a greatamount of frills, i.e. a large number of folds or crimps per centimeter(as viewed in the direction of the elastic action of the elastificationmeans). This three-dimensional wavy structure is then pressed againstthe skin surface with great strain exerted by the elastification means,and causes relative motions, in particular, when the user is highlymobile, which again irritate the skin surface and cause unpleasant oreven medically problematic skin irritations.

Whenever elastification means are guided in a curved shape or transversedirection with respect to a machine direction, which is often done toobtain an extensive elastification substantially of the overall chassismaterial, there is the problem that, due to the component transverse tothe machine direction, a larger path must be covered, thereby increasingthe pretension of the elastification means in the course of thestretch-bond method. This typically results in a stronger elastic strainresistance of the corresponding chassis areas compared to areas wherethe elastification means are introduced extending in the machinedirection, which could, in turn, cause severe problems.

Departing therefrom, it is the object of the present invention toimprove an incontinence article of the above-described type with regardto wear comfort, in fact, in areas of the belly section and backsection, which face away from the hip edge of the incontinence article,i.e. face the crotch area, where the above-mentioned problems areusually the most critical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by anincontinence article comprising the features of the independent claim.

Since both the belly section and the back section have an edge contourthat extends towards the transverse center axis to define the legopenings, a large extensive overlap between the crotch section and thebelly section, and the crotch section and the back section can beobtained, which is essential for forming a stable connection between thethree components of the incontinence article. This also provides acontour line that corresponds to the leg openings. Moreover, an area ofthe belly section and of the back section is provided on the crotch sidefacing the leg openings, which extends towards the transverse centeraxis and into which the second elastification means can be introduced ina specific fashion in correspondence with the stress conditions that aredesired at that location.

The first elastification means, which extend at a separation from eachother and parallel to each other in the transverse or peripheral hipdirection, are provided for extensive elastification of the bellysection and the back section. They preferably have the same pretensionand are substantially used to extensively elasticise the belly sectionand the back section in a continuous and even fashion in the areadistinctly above the leg openings. It is, however, possible that thefirst elastification means have a greater pretension in an upper hipedge area, or that several of these elastification means are disposed ata smaller distance from each other in order to realize a somewhatstronger elastification on the hip edge.

The present invention also showed i.a. that the stress conditions in theabove-mentioned area of the belly section and the back section on thecrotch side facing the leg openings cause the above-mentioned problemsand can be designed in such a fashion that the above-mentioned problemsare eliminated or reduced. In accordance with the invention, the area onthe crotch side facing the leg openings, in which the secondelastification means fan out towards the longitudinal center axis, isdesigned in such a fashion that the restoring force that is generatedwhen this area is extensively stretched, decreases towards the crotchregion. The restoring forces which occur in the belly region and theback region towards the crotch region and the leg openings duringextensive stretching of the second elastification means decrease fromthe region proximate the respective side seam region in the direction oftravel of the curved fanning out of the second elastification means. Theforces in question are those counteracting extensive stretching of theback region and of the belly region. The reduction in these forces isaccordingly passed on to the user and is associated with a substantialimprovement in wearing comfort of the incontinence article.

In order to determine the restoring forces, the areas of the chassis tobe measured can be fixedly clamped directly and quasi non-destructivelybetween two clamping jaws of defined identical clamping jaw width, andthe restoring forces can be determined under a defined extension, whichsimulates the state of wear, of the areas to be measured by, inparticular, 30% or 50% or 80% of the initial length (of the clamping jawseparation during fixing of the area to be measured in the non-stretchedstate). The clamping jaws should fix as many as possible, however, atleast two adjacent elastification means of the area to be measured, andbe substantially oriented perpendicularly to the extension of theelastification means, such that the clamps are extended substantially inthe direction of extension of the elastification means.

It is also particularly advantageous to reduce the restoring force inthe above-mentioned area of the belly section and the back section onthe crotch-side facing the leg openings in such a fashion that adecreasing number of folds is formed per cm in the transverse directionof the incontinence article in the direction towards the crotch section.In this case, the belly section and the back section can be stretched incorrespondence with the body shape of the user, thereby preventing thatthe resulting elastic forces gather the chassis material and form aplurality of folds. As mentioned above, a reduction of restoring forcesin the direction towards the crotch area means that the force that isgenerated due to extensive stretching decreases with decreasingseparation from the crotch section. The restoring force due to extensivestretching is thereby larger in an area closer to the side seam than inan area closer to the crotch section.

The above-mentioned stress conditions can be obtained in the mostdifferent ways, e.g. by using materials, which have differentelasticities in the transverse direction, for the area on the crotchside facing the leg openings, where the second elastification means arealso provided. It is also feasible to reduce the pretension of thesecond elastification means with decreasing separation from the crotchsection, i.e. from the outside to the inside towards a longitudinalcenter axis. Moreover, it is also feasible to reduce the restoring forceunder extensive stretching by increasing the distance between the secondelastification means, wherein one must take care that this is notcancelled by a strong increase in pretension due to the fan-shapedextension of the elastification means or is even over-compensated by anincreasing restoring force.

It has turned out to be particularly advantageous for a minimumseparation between the second elastification means (separation betweendirectly neighboring elastification means) in the side seam areas to be3 to 8 mm, in particular 3 to 7 mm, and moreover in particular 3 to 6mm.

It has also turned out to be advantageous for a maximum separationbetween the second elastification means (separation of directlyneighboring elastification means) on an absorbent body edge or on alongitudinal edge of the crotch section to be 7 to 35 mm, in particular10 to 32 mm and moreover, in particular, 12 to 30 mm.

It has also turned out to be advantageous for the second elastificationmeans to have a fanning-out degree F.F=(A−B)/B*100%of 50 to 900%, in particular 100 to 700%, and moreover, in particular150 to 550%.

The fanning-out degree F. is thereby defined as the ratio between theseparation increase (A−B) and the minimum separation (B) in percent. Thevalues A and B are thereby defined as the separation between theoutermost second elastification means in the longitudinal direction andthe innermost second elastification means in the longitudinal direction(i.e. not the separation between directly neighboring secondelastification means), i.a. A as the maximum separation, in particular,on the longitudinal edge of the crotch section or on the absorbent bodyedge, and B as the minimum separation, in particular, in the side seamarea.

It was also found out that the fanning-out degree F. of the secondelastification means is advantageously larger in the back section thanin the belly section.

The above-mentioned problems are typically more severe with respect tothe back or bottom area due to the natural body shape of the back regionof a user. For this reason, the maximum separation between the secondelastification means (separation between directly borderingelastification means) on an absorbent body edge or on a longitudinaledge of the crotch section in the back section is advantageously largerthan in the belly section.

It is quite feasible for the second elastification means to extend in acontinuous fashion from one side seam area to the other side seam area,which simplifies, in particular, introduction in a continuous productionmethod compared to a “cut-and-place” process. Since the crotch sectionoverlaps the belly section and the back section, the absorbent body,which comprises a good deal of material, and the belly section and/orthe back section typically also overlap or cover each other, and therebyalso the area of the belly section and the back section on the crotchside facing the leg openings, in which the second elastification meansextend. The absorbent body, which comprises a good deal of material,thereby usually impairs the elastic stretchability of the chassismaterials. It is moreover not necessarily advantageous to additionallystrain the absorbent body which comprises a good deal of material. Forthis reason, it may be advantageous to deactivate the elastic propertiesof the second elastification means in an overlapping area with theabsorbent body of the crotch section. This deactivation may e.g. berealized by a number of separating cuts through the secondelastification means in the overlapping area with the absorbent body,wherein other separating methods are also feasible, e.g. usingultrasound welding or laser.

It must be mentioned that the elastic properties of the firstelastification means may also be deactivated in the overlapping areawith the absorbent body.

It has been mentioned above, that, irrespective of the stress conditionsto be produced in accordance with the invention, the secondelastification means may be exposed to greater elongation and thereby toa higher pretension during production of the incontinence article incorrespondence with their fanned-out extension than in an area which isnot fanned out and in which they substantially extend at equal distancesfrom each other and in the machine direction. This stronger pretensionmay typically result from introduction of the second elastificationmeans in a conventional stretch-bond method which is therefore notdescribed in detail.

With respect to the overall dimensions of the incontinence article, itis advantageous for the separation (C) between the innermost secondelastification means of the belly section facing the crotch area and thecorresponding innermost second elastification means of the back sectionfacing the crotch area to be 250 to 420 mm.

The separation between the innermost second elastification means facingthe crotch area and the edge contour, delimiting the leg openings, ofthe area of the belly section and the back section on the crotch sidefacing the leg openings is preferably 2 to 40 mm, moreover preferably 3to 30 mm, in particular preferably 4 to 15 mm.

Thread-shaped or band-shaped elastification means, such as rubber orpolyetherpolyurethane or polyesterpolyurethane threads, preferablyelastic threads such as Lycra® or Spandex® threads are used as the firstand/or second elastification means. The first and/or secondelastification means preferably have a strength of 300 to 1500 dtex, inparticular 500 to 900 dtex, moreover in particular 500 to 600 dtex.

The first and/or second elastification means are preferably fixed with apretension of 1.5 to 6.0, in particular 2.5 to 5.0, to thechassis-forming cover materials of the belly section and the backsection (stretch-bonding method). The pretension is thereby defined asthe factor of the degree of extension compared to thenon-stretched/relaxed state of the elastification means.

The extension of the belly section and the back section in the side seamarea in the longitudinal direction is preferably at least 100 mm, inparticular at least 150 mm, and in particular 150 to 220 mm.

The minimum separation between the belly section and the back section inthe longitudinal direction is preferably 250 to 400 mm.

The maximum extension of the crotch section in the transverse directionis advantageously 200 to 350 mm, in particular 250 to 320 mm.

The crotch section advantageously comprises a liquid-impermeablebacksheet material and a non-woven topsheet material, between which theabsorbent body is disposed. The backsheet material and the non-woventopsheet material thereby essentially form the chassis of the crotchsection. In a further particularly important development of theinvention, the backsheet material and/or the topsheet materialpreferably form a projection past the absorbent body in the transversedirection, and this projection on both sides of the absorbent body, i.e.on the left-hand and right-hand side added together, amounts to at least25%, in particular 30 to 45%, moreover in particular 35 to 45%, withrespect to the maximum width of the crotch section (i.e. with respect tothe maximum extension of the crotch section in the transversedirection).

This relatively large projection of backsheet material and/or topsheetmaterial on both sides of the absorbent body represents a wide crotchsection with a relatively narrow absorbent body. It is thereby possibleto provide leg elastification means in the crotch section, which extendalong the leg openings and have a relatively large separation from theabsorbent body which comprises a good deal of material and is thereforerigid. This results, in turn, in good sealability and adjustability ofthe leg opening edges of the crotch section on both sides. In this case,the absorbent body, which comprises a good deal of material and isresistant to torsion with respect to thin chassis materials, onlyminimally impairs formation of a liquid-tight leg termination. For thisreason, a liquid-tight leg termination can be realized without excessivestrain, which further improves the wear comfort of the incontinencearticle.

In a further design of the invention, the leg elastification meanspreferentially terminate in the longitudinal direction at least 10 mm,in particular at least 20 mm, upstream of the second elastificationmeans. In a particularly advantageous fashion, the leg elastificationmeans terminate in the longitudinal direction upstream of the bellysection and/or the back section. The stress and restoring force exertedby them therefore does not influence the inventive stress relationshipswithin the area of the belly section and the back section on the crotchside facing the leg openings, where the fanning-out secondelastification means are provided.

Thread-shaped or band-shaped elastification means, such as rubber orpolyether polyurethane or polyester polyurethane threads, preferablyelastic threads such as Lycra® or Spandex® threads, are preferably usedas leg elastification means. The leg elastification means preferablyhave a thickness of 300 to 1500 dtex, in particular, 500 to 1200 dtex,moreover, in particular 500 to 900 dtex.

The leg elastification means are preferably fixed with a pretension of1.5 to 6.0, in particular 2.5 to 4.5, to the chassis-forming covermaterials of the crotch section.

Irrespective thereof, the belly section and the back section arepreferably continuously, extensively transversely elasticised in thelongitudinal direction at least outside of the absorbent body, whereinin this case, the inventive stress conditions must also be maintained orrealized.

The chassis-forming materials of the belly section and/or the backsection preferably comprise non-woven materials, such as spunbondednon-woven materials, card webs or Through Air bonded card webs. Withparticular preference, the chassis-forming material of the belly sectionand/or the back section comprises a spunbonded non-woven material. Thenon-woven materials that are used for the belly section and/or the backsection advantageously have a surface density of 10 to 30 g/m², moreoverpreferably 15 to 25 g/m². With particular preference, the belly sectionand the back section have a spunbonded non-woven material ofpolypropylene, in particular, with a surface density of 15 to 25 g/m².

The crotch section advantageously comprises a liquid-impermeablebacksheet material and a non-woven topsheet material. The backsheetcomprises, in particular, a foil, in particular, of a surface density of18 to 40 g/m². The backsheet comprises, in particular, a foil which isliquid-tight but at the same time breathable during use, i.e. a watervapor-permeable, in particular, micro porous foil. The water vaporpermeability of the backsheet is, in particular, at least 300 g/m²/24 h,moreover, in particular at least 1000 g/m²/24 h, moreover, in particularat least 2000 g/m²/24 h, moreover, in particular at least 3000 g/m²/24h, moreover, in particular at least 4000 g/m²/24 h, moreover, inparticular at most 6000 g/m²/24 h measured according to DIN 53 122-1(Edition: 2001-08).

The absorbent body comprises materials that absorb body liquids, such asnatural and synthetic fibers, in particular, cellulose fibers,preferably in the form of cellulose fluff. The absorbent body moreoverpreferably comprises super-absorbent materials (SAP), in particular, onthe basis of surface-cross-linked, partially neutralized polyacrylates.

The proportion between the surface of the crotch section and the overallsurface of the incontinence article is advantageously 25 to 55%, and thecrotch section overlaps at least 12% of the surface of the belly sectionand at least 20% of the surface of the back section. The surfaceportions are determined in each case in the extended state of thechassis materials (shown in FIG. 1).

The crotch section advantageously overlaps 15 to 40%, in particular 15to 35%, and moreover, in particular 15 to 25%, of the surface of thebelly section.

The crotch section moreover advantageously overlaps the belly sectionwith a surface of 25,000 to 45,000 mm².

The crotch section moreover advantageously overlaps 20 to 40%, inparticular 20 to 35%, and moreover, in particular 22 to 32%, of thesurface of the back sections.

The crotch section moreover advantageously overlaps the back sectionwith a surface of 35,000 to 65,000 mm², in particular 40,000 to 55,000mm².

The overlap between the crotch section and the back section is moreoveradvantageously larger than with the belly section.

The crotch section or the longitudinal edges of the crotch section,which define the leg openings, advantageously have a curved contour.

The absorbent body moreover advantageously also overlaps 5 to 20%, inparticular 5 to 15%, of the surface of the belly section and/or 10 to20%, in particular 10 to 15%, of the surface of the back section.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention can beextracted from the enclosed claims, the drawing and the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the inventive incontinencearticle. In the drawing:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an inventive incontinence article, whichshows a belly section, a back section and a crotch section that connectsthem, of the incontinence article, which are not yet connected to form apants shape, but are illustrated in a flat and extended state;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the incontinence article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the crotch section of the incontinencearticle according to FIG. 1, in turn, in the flat and extended state;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section (schematic) along a transverse center axisof the crotch section with intersecting plane IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section corresponding to FIG. 4 (schematic) of thecrotch section with intersecting plane V-V of FIG. 3, with unfolded andupright barrier means;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view (schematic) of the incontinence articleaccording to FIG. 1, which is applied to a user;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the inventive incontinence articlecorresponding to FIG. 1 to clearly show the connection between thecrotch section and the belly section or back section; and

FIG. 8 clearly shows as an example the determination of restoring forcesin the belly section or back section of the inventive incontinencearticle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figures show an incontinence article in the form of pants, which isdesignated in total by reference numeral 2, for receiving solid andliquid body excrements. The incontinence article 2 is formed from threecomponents which can be largely independently produced, i.e. a frontbelly section 4, a rear back section 6, and a crotch section 8 which isdisposed therebetween and comprises an absorbent body 7, wherein thecrotch section 8 overlaps a substantial surface portion of the bellysection 4 and also of the back section 6, and is permanently connectedin the overlapping area during production. As can be gathered from FIG.1, this yields an H-shaped basic structure of the incontinence articlewith a longitudinal direction 9. The joined components (FIG. 1) are thenalso connected to each other at the respective lateral longitudinal edgesections 10, 12 of the belly section 4 and the back section 6 duringproduction in order to form the pants shape (schematically shown in FIG.6), thereby forming side seam areas 14 on both sides (FIG. 6). In thispants-shaped state of the incontinence article, which is realized by themanufacturer, the belly section 4 and the back section 6 continuouslyextend in the transverse or peripheral hip direction 16 to the side seamareas 14 and thereby define a hip opening 18, which is closed in theperipheral hip direction, and leg openings 19 through which the userapplies the incontinence article like a pair of pants.

The belly section 4 can be divided into an area 20 on the hip side andan area 22 on the crotch side facing the leg openings. A correspondingsubdivision is provided in the back section 6, i.e. also into an area 24on the hip side and an area 26 on the crotch side facing the legopenings.

First elastification means 28 are provided in the area 20 of the bellysection 4 on the hip side and in the area 24 of the back section 6 onthe hip side, which may be, in particular, thread-like elastificationmeans, such as Lycra threads, which are pretensioned and connected tothe sheet materials (chassis materials) of the belly section 4 and theback section 6 in a so-called stretch-bond method. These firstelastification means 28 extend in the transverse or peripheral hipdirection 16 from one side seam area 14 to the other.

The section 22 of the belly section 4 or 26 of the back section 6 on thecrotch side facing the leg openings 19 has an edge contour 32 or 34which extends towards a transverse center axis 30 of the crotch section8 and differs from the transverse or peripheral hip direction 16. Thisedge contour 32, 34 is also curved in the representation of FIG. 1 andtherefore suited for delimiting the leg openings 19. The shape of thearea 22 or 26 on the crotch side facing the leg openings also realizes arelatively large overlapping area 36, 38 between the crotch section 8and the belly section 4 or back section 6, which is essential in view ofa tear-resistant connection between the crotch section 8 and the bellysection 4 or back section 6. The larger the overlapping area 36, 38, thesmaller the amount of glue required with respect to the surface of theoverlapping area, which is advantageous with respect to the rigidity ofthe chassis materials. The components can be connected without having toprovide glue on the entire surface.

The respective area 22, 26 of the belly section 4 or the back section 6on the crotch side facing the leg openings 19 is also elasticised.Second elastification means 40 and 42 are provided at that location. Thesecond elastification means 40, 42 extend in each case starting from theside seam areas 14 towards a longitudinal center axis 44 of theincontinence article. As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondelastification means 40, 42 fan out towards the longitudinal center axis44. This means that the separation between them increases towards thelongitudinal center axis 44. This fanning out of the secondelastification means 40 and 42 can also be quantitatively described inmore detail with respect to FIG. 2. The second elastification means 42(shown in FIG. 2) of the back section 6 e.g. have a minimum separationof 3 to 8 mm from each other in the side seam areas 14 (separation ofdirectly neighboring elastification means) and a maximum separation(separation of directly neighboring elastification means) of 7 to 35 mmon an absorbent body edge 46 or longitudinal edge 48 of the crotchsection 8. The fanning-out degree F. can also be defined with respect toFIG. 2:F=(A−B)/B*100%

This fanning-out degree may advantageously be between 50 and 900%, inparticular between 100 and 700%, and moreover, in particular between 150and 550%. It is advantageously larger in the back section 6 than in thebelly section 4. The values A and B are thereby defined as theseparation between the outermost second elastification means 40, 42 inthe longitudinal direction 9, and the innermost second elastificationmeans 40, 42 in the longitudinal direction 9, (i.e. not the separationbetween directly neighboring elastification means), i.e. A as themaximum separation, in particular, on the longitudinal edge 48 of thecrotch section 8 and B as the minimum separation, in particular, in theside seam area 14.

When the fanning-out degree of the second elastification means 40, 42 isselected sufficiently large, the restoring force can be reduced withinthe area 22 or 26 on the crotch side facing the leg openings 19 in thedirection 56 towards the crotch section 8 by ensuring that thepretension is not excessively increased due to the larger path of thesecond elastification means 40, 42 in consequence of the curvedextension of the second elastification means 40, 42 facing away from thehip or transverse direction 16. A comparison of a region 50, which isdisposed closer to the side seam area 14 of the relevant crotch-sidearea 22 or 26, with a region 52, which is disposed closer to the crotchsection 8, shows that the restoring force that is generated when theregion 52 is extensively stretched (extension in the direction of theelastification means 42) is smaller than the restoring force that isproduced when the region 50 is stretched. This advantageously results inthat, in consequence of the smaller elastic forces that are exerted bythe second elastification means 40, 42 in the illustrated exemplarycase, the chassis materials of the belly section 4 and back section 6are less gathered, such that the number of folds/crimps 54 is alsoreduced, starting from the respective side seam area 14 in the directiontowards the crotch section 8. Since the restoring forces that aregenerated through extensive stretching of the area 22 of the bellysection 4 or 26 of the back section 6 on the crotch side facing the legopenings decrease in the direction of the arrow 56, i.e. in general fromthe side seam area 14 towards the crotch section 8, the wear comfort isconsiderably further improved, since, as was established in accordancewith the invention, the use of elastically stretchable materials isparticularly problematic especially in these areas, since thesematerials are particularly strained with respect to tension andextension in these areas in correspondence with the physiology of thebody shape of a person. A deliberate inventive reduction of thisrestoring force effecting a reduction in restoring force in thedirection of arrow 56 towards closer proximity to the crotch region 8,provides a degree of freedom which could not be achieved before, andsolves the above-mentioned problems more effectively.

As mentioned above, restoring forces can be determined directly on thechassis of the incontinence article. Towards this end, the relevant areaof the belly section 4 or of the back section 6 is clamped between twoclamping jaws 102, 104 (FIG. 8) of defined identical clamping jaw width(b), and the restoring forces are then determined under definedextension of the areas to be measured of, in particular, 30% or 50% or80% of the initial length (of the clamping jaw separation in theunclamped state) to simulate the extension exerted during use. Theclamping jaws 102, 104 are thereby moved apart from each other. Theclamping jaws 102, 104 should fix a maximum amount of, however at leasttwo, neighboring elastification means 40, 42 or 28 of the area to bemeasured and should be substantially oriented at right angles withrespect to the extension of the elastification means, such that theclamping jaws 102, 104 are extended, i.e. moved apart from each other,substantially in the direction of extension of the elastification means.This is clearly shown in FIG. 8.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the incontinence article 2, aseparation C between the innermost second elastification means 40 of thebelly section 4, facing the crotch area, and the corresponding innermostsecond elastification means 42 of the back section 6, facing the crotcharea, is between 250 and 420 mm depending on the size of theincontinence article. The second elastification means 40, 42substantially extend to the transverse edge 58, 60, facing the crotcharea, of the belly section 4 and the back section 6. The separationbetween the belly section 4 and the back section 6 in the longitudinaldirection 9 is 250-400 mm.

The separation between the innermost second elastification means 40, 42,facing the crotch area, and the edge contour 32, 34, defining the legopenings, of the area 22, 26 of the belly section 4 and the back section6 on the crotch side facing the leg openings is preferably 2 to 40 mm,moreover, in particular, preferably 3 to 30 mm, in particular preferably4 to 15 mm.

The belly section 4 and the back section 6 extend in the side seam area14 in the longitudinal direction 9 preferably by between 100 and 220 mm.The maximum extension of the crotch section 8 in the transversedirection 16 is advantageously 200 to 350 mm.

The crotch section 8 comprises a liquid-impermeable backsheet material62, which may be formed, in particular, by a breathable, butliquid-tight foil material, and a topsheet material 64 that ispreferably based on a non-woven material. The absorbent body 7 isdisposed between the backsheet material and the topsheet material (shownin FIGS. 4, 5). In the exemplary case, the backsheet material 62 forms aprojection 66 that extends past the absorbent body 7 in the transversedirection 16. The topsheet 64 only slightly projects past the absorbentbody 7 in the transverse direction. However, one upright barrier means68 is provided on each side of the absorbent body 7, which extends inthe longitudinal direction 9 and is typically called an upright cuffelement or collar element, and is preferably formed from a hydrophobic,in particular, liquid-impermeable non-woven material, which preferablyextends in the transverse direction 16 to the lateral longitudinal edges48 of the crotch section 8. The distal ends 70 of the barrier means 68are provided with further elastification means 72, which lift thebarrier means 68 during use of the incontinence article against the skinsurface of the user, as is schematically shown in FIG. 5. In theirrespective longitudinal end areas 74, the lateral barrier means 68 arefixed via schematically indicated fixations 76, 78 to the topsheet 64 orto themselves in a C-shaped folded configuration. It is therebyadvantageous and notable that each inner fixation 78 in FIG. 4 fixes thebarrier means 68 onto itself in the transverse direction 16 within theouter fixation 76, which forms a cuff base line 80 that continuouslyextends in the longitudinal direction 9. The inner fixation 78, however,is only provided in the longitudinal end areas 74 of the barrier means68.

It is thereby particularly advantageous for the above-mentionedprojection 66 of the backsheet material 62 and/or the topsheet material64 which extends past the absorbent body 7 on both sides of theabsorbent body, i.e. on the left-hand and right-hand side addedtogether, to be at least 25% with respect to the largest width of thecrotch section 8. This provides space in the transverse direction 16 forthe arrangement of leg elastification means 82 that extend along the legopenings 19. It has turned out to be advantageous for the legelastification means 82 to extend at a given separation from theabsorbent body 7 which comprises a great deal of material and istherefore rather rigid in order not to exert any additional extension ortorsional forces onto the absorbent body, which could impair itsabsorption properties, and also to realize a liquid-tight legtermination which is largely independent of the absorbent body. In thepresent case, it has turned out to be particularly advantageous for theleg elastification means 82 to terminate in the longitudinal direction 9at a clear distance of, in particular, at least 10 mm, preferably atleast 20 mm, upstream of the second elastification means 40 and 42 ofthe belly section 4 or the back section 6. These leg elastificationmeans 82 preferably terminate in the longitudinal direction 9 upstreamof the belly section 4 and the back section 6. This is advantageous andessential since, in this case, the leg elastification means 82 do not orhardly influence the stress behavior of the belly section 4 and the backsection 6. It was found out that, in view of the inventive aim ofimproving the wear comfort in particular in the areas 22 and 26 of thebelly section 4 and back section 6 on the crotch side facing the legopenings 19, it is disadvantageous for the leg elastification means 82,which usually have a great pretension and correspondingly largerestoring forces, to additionally also extend at that location.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the crotch section 8 projects to relativelylarge extent 66 past the absorbent body 7 in the transverse direction,in particular, also in areas of the crotch section 8, which face thebelly section 4 or the back section 6. This yields a relatively largeoverlapping area 36, 38 between the crotch section 8 and the bellysection 4 and the back section 6, as mentioned above. According to apreferred embodiment variant, the overlapping area 36 of the crotchsection 8 and belly section 4 covers at least 12% of the surface of thebelly section 4, and the overlapping area 38 of the crotch section 8 andthe back section 6 covers at least 20% of the surface of the backsection 6. This is advantageous, since the crotch section 8 is therebyreliably fixed to the belly section 4 or the back section 6 even whenthe glue is not provided on the full surface. It is thereby alsoadvantageously sufficient to use glue only in sections or in a patternin order to realize a connection. This advantageously prevents thejoined materials from becoming excessively rigid.

Another advantageous detail of the inventive incontinence article isexplained with respect to FIG. 7, which corresponds to FIG. 1. Thethree-component concept for producing the inventive incontinence articleproduces a transition 90 between the crotch section 8 and the bellysection 4, as well as a transition 92 between the crotch section 8 andthe back section 6, which usually yields a non-continuous shape, i.e.with corners or angles or bends, of the edges of the chassis materials,which define the leg openings 19. This is dangerous in that force peaksare formed in the area of the transitions 90, 92, which could tear thechassis materials, which could, in turn, impair joining of the crotchsection 8 to the belly section 4 or the back section 6. To counteractthis, the liquid-impermeable backsheet material 62 of the crotch section8 is provided with a reinforcing coating 94, 96 in the respectivetransition 90 and 92. It is sufficient to provide this reinforcingcoating 94, 96 only in the area indicated by the dashed line of FIG. 7.In the exemplary, advantageously illustrated case, the reinforcingcoating 94, 96 overlaps the belly section 4 and the back section 6 inthe longitudinal direction 9 by only approximately 10 to 20 mm, inparticular, by approximately 15 mm. The reinforcing coating terminatesin the longitudinal direction 9 in each case upstream of thelongitudinal ends 98, 100 of the crotch section, at least 30 mm upstreamof the belly-side longitudinal end 98 and at least 90 mm upstream of theback-side longitudinal end 100. This is advantageous in that thereinforcing coating 94, 96 does not thereby unnecessarily reinforce thechassis materials in areas where this is not helpful but ratherundesired and disadvantageous. This also saves material costs. However,the possibility to provide the reinforcing coating 94, 96 not only inthe transition 90 or 92 remains unaffected.

The reinforcing coating 94, 96 advantageously consists of a non-wovenmaterial, in particular, of a spunbonded non-woven material ofpolypropylene, in particular, having a surface density of 10 to 20 g/m²,in particular 12 to 17 g/m².

1. An incontinence article in the form of pants for receiving bodyexcrements, the article comprising: a front belly section; a rear backsection, said rear back section connected to said front belly section atside seam areas on both sides during production to form a belly and backband which is continuous in a transverse or peripheral hip direction todefine a hip opening which is closed in said peripheral hip direction; acrotch section having a center at which an absorbent body is disposed,said crotch section extending in a longitudinal direction between andpermanently attached to said belly section and said back section,wherein said crotch section, said belly section, and said back sectiondefine leg openings of the incontinence article, said belly section andsaid back section having an edge contour, which extends towards atransverse center axis of said crotch section and which differs fromsaid transverse or peripheral hip direction to define said leg openings;first elastification means disposed in said belly section and said backsection, said first elastification means extending at a separation fromand parallel to each other in said transverse or peripheral hipdirection to thereby extensively elasticise said belly section and saidback section; and second elastification means disposed in an area ofsaid belly section and said back section on a crotch side facing saidleg openings, said second elastification means extending from said twoside seam areas to slant towards said center of said crotch section,thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other in afirst area of said belly section and said back section on said crotchside facing said leg openings, wherein said second elastification meansare disposed, structured and dimensioned such that said fanning out ofsaid second elastification means generates a first restoring force inresponse to stretching of said first area, which decreases towards saidcenter of said crotch section.
 2. The incontinence article of claim 1,wherein a number of folds per cm formed in said first area of said bellysection and said back section decreases towards said center of saidcrotch section.
 3. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein aminimum separation between said second elastification means in said sideseam areas is 3 to 8 mm, 3 to 7 mm or 3 to 6 mm.
 4. The incontinencearticle of claim 1, wherein a maximum separation between said secondelastification means on an absorbent body edge or on a longitudinal edgeof said crotch section is 7 to 35 mm, 10 to 32 mm or 12 to 30 mm.
 5. Theincontinence article of claim 1, wherein said second elastificationmeans have a fanning-out degree (F=(A−B)/3*100%) of 50 to 900%, 100 to700% or 150 to 550%.
 6. The incontinence article of claim 5, whereinsaid fanning-out degree (F=(A−B)/B*100%) of said second elastificationmeans in said back section is larger than in said belly section.
 7. Theincontinence article of claim 1, wherein a maximum separation betweensaid second elastification means in said back section on an absorbentbody edge or on a longitudinal edge of said crotch section is largerthan in said belly section.
 8. The incontinence article of claim 1,wherein elastic properties of said second elastification means aredeactivated in an overlapping area with said absorbent body of saidcrotch section.
 9. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein saidsecond elastification means have a greater pretension in correspondencewith a fanned-out shape thereof than in an area where they are notfanned out.
 10. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein aseparation between innermost said second elastification means of saidbelly section facing said crotch area and corresponding innermost saidsecond elastification means of said back section facing said crotch areais 250 to 420 mm.
 11. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein aseparation between innermost said second elastification means facingsaid crotch area and an edge contour delimiting said leg openings ofsaid first area of said belly section and said back section on saidcrotch side facing said leg openings is 2 to 40 mm, 3 to 30 mm or 4 to15 mm.
 12. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein said bellysection and said back section extend in said side seam area in saidlongitudinal direction by at least 100 mm, 150 mm or 150 mm to 220 mm.13. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein a minimum separationbetween said belly section and said back section in said longitudinaldirection is 250 to 400 mm.
 14. The incontinence article of claim 1,wherein a maximum extension of said crotch section in said transversedirection is 200 to 350 mm or 250 to 320 mm.
 15. The incontinencearticle of claim 1, wherein said crotch section comprises aliquid-impermeable backsheet material and a non-woven topsheet materialbetween which said absorbent body is disposed.
 16. The incontinencearticle of claim 1, wherein said crotch section comprises aliquid-impermeable backsheet material and a topsheet material betweenwhich said absorbent body is disposed, and said backsheet materialand/or said topsheet material project past said absorbent body in saidtransverse direction, wherein a projection past sides of said absorbentbody on a left-hand plus right-hand side is at least 25%, 30 to 45% or35 to 45% of a maximum width of said crotch section.
 17. Theincontinence article of claim 1, wherein said crotch section has legelastification means which extend outside of said absorbent body alongsaid leg openings and terminate in said longitudinal direction at least10 mm or at least 20 mm upstream of said second elastification means.18. The incontinence article of claim 17, wherein said legelastification means terminate in said longitudinal direction upstreamof said belly section and/or upstream of said back section.
 19. Theincontinence article of claim 1, wherein, at least outside of saidabsorbent body, said belly section and said back section aresubstantially continuously extensively transversely elasticised acrosssaid longitudinal direction.
 20. The incontinence article of claim 1,wherein a proportion of surface of said crotch section with respect toan entire surface of the incontinence article is 25 to 55%, wherein saidcrotch section overlaps at least 12% of a surface of said belly sectionand at least 20% of a surface of said back section in an extended stateof chassis materials.
 21. The incontinence article of claim 1, whereinsaid crotch section overlaps 15 to 40%, 15 to 35% or 15 to 25% of asurface of said belly section.
 22. The incontinence article of claim 1,wherein said crotch section overlaps said belly section with a surfaceof 25,000 to 45,000 mm².
 23. The incontinence article of claim 1,wherein said crotch section overlaps 20 to 40%, 20 to 35% or 22 to 32%of a surface of said back section.
 24. The incontinence article of claim1, wherein said crotch section overlaps said back section with a surfaceof 35,000 to 65,000 mm² or 40,000 to 55,000 mm².
 25. The incontinencearticle of claim 1, wherein an overlap between said crotch section andsaid back section is larger than between said crotch section and saidbelly section.
 26. The incontinence article of claim 1, wherein saidabsorbent body also overlaps 5 to 20% or 5 to 15% of a surface of saidbelly section and/or 10 to 20% or 10 to 15% of a surface of said backsection.